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Monthly Archives: January 2017
Pumpkin Farmer by Michael Hughes (Book Review)
The year is 1979. Malaise, stagflation, turmoil in the Middle East, and a gas crunch; these things are but background noise for what unfolds when a lovesick businessman and a sociopathic drifter cross paths. John Nix, business manager of a Silicon Valley semiconductor startup, picks up Horace Fullworth, a ne’er-do -well heir of a wealthy California family, who has returned to San Francisco after surviving the Jonestown Massacre.
After John discovers his girlfriend cheating, he drives to a bar in the small rustic town of La Honda. He meets Ellie O’Neil, a pretty young woman he offers to drive home. Feeling misled by her, he leaves her on the side of the road, where Horace finds her. John hears that Ellie has gone missing and is overcome with guilt. His struggle with his conscience leads him back to those rugged coastal foothills of the San Francisco Peninsula.
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
It was fascinating witnessing the ways Horace and John’s paths keep intercepting each other’s. With the level of detail surrounding their daily lives and happenings, you almost feel like you are watching these two men through binoculars. Let me tell you folks, these two gents weren’t sitting around watching pumpkins grow. There was a lot more going on at the pumpkin farm than meets the eye.
In Chapter 34, the story really picks up steam —- the unthinkable happened. Be prepared for more than one shocking development, which included a surprise revelation. Yes, we had to wait until almost the end of the book. Yes, the big game changer could’ve been touched on a bit more and way sooner. Yes, I would have most definitely altered John and Ellie’s roles at the end.
When you think of sociopaths (Horace), when you read what became of Ellie, and Horace’s discovery, you’ll probably understand my cryptic meaning more clearly. I could describe my plot twist in more detail but I’m afraid it would give away spoilers which I won’t do.
But I will say this, those ending chapters were freaking fabulous and had me saying, “What the f*ck?!” and not in a bad way. Seriously, nice twist!
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤1/2
I’m 25 and currently work for a bank in compliance in Los Angeles. Pumpkin Farmer and The Crimson Shamrock are my two published paperback novels; I also self-published a novel titled Loafing by La Brea.
Filed under Uncategorized
Author Showcase: Jeffrey L. Kohanek – “The Emblem Throne” ~ (CONTEST INCLUDED)~
You might recall, back on January 7th, Jeffrey was here giving away a signed print copy of The Buried Symbol. He was so overwhelmed by your support, he asked for a return engagement so he could present The Emblem Throne and once again offer ONE LUCKY WINNER a FREE COPY of The Buried Symbol. This time for your kindle !
He just knows (like me) that once you embark on this journey with Brock, you’ll be eager to ride shotgun on his next adventure, The Emblem Throne. Which will include friends he made from the Ministry and, of course, Tip. Plus, we shall meet many new faces.
First though, lets take a peek at The Emblem Throne before you leave us a comment and/or question. Reminder, your feedback makes you eligible to WIN The Buried Symbol so, don’t be shy, drop us a line!
(Contest runs from now until January 28th, midnight – central time. Winner is selected January 29th and his or her name will be posted on a comment below! BTW: No matter where you call home, you may enter. So enter, my fellow bookworms!!)
As they strive to become Masters within the Ministry, Brock and his friends resume their training at the Academy, an institution founded on magic, science, knowledge, law, and combat. They soon discover an expansive web of conspiracies and deceit within the Ministry, hidden behind a veil of benevolence and piety. The exposure of one of those secrets forces Brock and his friends to flee the institution with their lives in the balance.
Joined by a fierce Tantarri warrior, the group embarks on a quest to locate a mysterious throne that has been lost for centuries. Guided by the cryptic words of an ancient prophecy, and backed by a forbidden magic that they are still learning to wield, they journey across the continent to save humanity from extinction.
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
Many characters we met in book one, The Buried Symbol, are back and ready to assist Brock in his mission to save the world. Along the way, we meet several of their family members and begin to understand why they joined the Ministry. Cameron has two jealous older brothers. Ashland has an evil uncle but the sweetest and most loving parents. Benny, his father is a sweetheart and now sporting a wheelchair thanks to Benny’s ingenuity. As for Parker, his father made the biggest impression of all but I won’t disclose more. (No spoilers)
Along with meeting the kinfolk, the group encounters mystical beings. Wraith: A bacabra, big dog but 3-4 times larger than your normal thought of canine, whom became a great ally. Also, they battled a horde of banshees.
Ten feet tall, red eyes, and sharp talons — These creatures are the things of nightmares. And unfortunately, the battle with them brought upon more than one death. However, not everything was a loss. Love did bloom despite the bleak future ahead. And with the end of the book came…… a promising start to book three, An Empire in Runes: releasing in Spring of 2017. I’ll be on the look-out for it and I’m sure you’ll be too.
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2
~~ Special note from Jeffrey L. Kohanek ~~
Book III, An Empire in Runes, is set to release in Spring of 2017, widening the story’s scope, further expanding the cast of characters, and uncovering the depths of the conspiracy that lies within the Ministry. Find out how this epic adventure ends, for the world will be a much different place at the conclusion of the trilogy.
Filed under Uncategorized
Fistful of Love by Renee Cronin (Book Review)
At the age of 23, social worker, Jeya Wellington was pretty much on her own. The devastating loss of her parents left her bereft and alone. Her best friend, Roman and his family have been like surrogates, but they could never replace what she lost. She needed a different connection. Shortly after losing her parents, she finds love and comfort in the arms of Rayne Watson, a correctional officer.
Rayne was exactly what she needed at the time, but now, two years later, Jeya wants out. She never expected love to come with bruises. She didn’t anticipate losing friends and living in fear. This was not her idea of true love. With the support of Roman, Jeya finds a way to leave. But Rayne isn’t letting go that easily. They made a commitment to each other, and she has the tattoo to prove it – ‘Til Death Do Us Part.
Torn between the love she has for Rayne and the instinct to protect herself, is Jeya’s will stronger than her vow?
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
No matter your sexual orientation, gender, race, color, you can find yourself in an abusive relationship. Man, woman, anyone can be abused or be the abuser.
In a search, I discovered 1 out of 4 women and 1 out of 7 men will be abused by an intimate partner. That astounded me.
When you seek out and find love, it’s supposed to be a joyous occasion. You shouldn’t fear for your life. You should be happy to wake up, come home, or see your partner’s face. You should lean into their touch and not shy away from it.
Jeya did step away from her (female) abuser, Rayne, and I respected her strength to do so. However, like most victims, she went back thinking things would change. And like others painfully discover, it doesn’t.
Luckily for Jeya, she had people watching her back, sickened by the abuse she suffered, and willing to help her move on. Renee depicted the emotional, physical and psychological abuse men and women face every minute of every day. Like Roman, I was angry and befuddled how anyone could go back to an abuser but this is where mental manipulation comes into play.
For the outcome of the story, Renee projected one plausible and highly possible outcome to such a real life scenario/plot. Her story may not be labeled a biography but I know many individuals will feel as if they are reading and reliving their own horrific tale.
For those who deal with abuse, please don’t suffer. You deserve better in life. You deserve a lifetime full of love not days/hours/minutes shrouded in a layer of fear, pain, and suffering of any kind.
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2
Renee Cronin is a self-professed devourer of knowledge, and a voracious reader. She began writing in earnest in 2005, when the characters in her head became so loud she was forced to tell their stories, or risk getting swept away into the abyss of her imagination. Renee has since used writing as a personal outlet to express her feelings, ideas, views, thoughts, and opinions about the world and the issues that impact her on a deep personal and societal level. (And of course writing also quiets the voices in her head of the many characters that are yearning to have their stories told.) Renee’s inspiration to publish is in large part due to the overwhelming display of encouragement, and support from family and friends, who believe she has a gift with words that need to be shared with world. Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, she works in the social work field avidly advocating and supporting the varied needs of the people in her community. Renee is a bibliophile with a transcendent love for words. Her soul yearns for the acoustic stylings from a plethora of musical genres. As she continues on this journey of published author she hopes to keep her readers captivated and pining for more.
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Feversong: A Fever Novel by Karen Marie Moning (Book Review)
MacKayla Lane and Jericho Barrons return in the epic conclusion to the pulse-pounding Fever series, where a world thrown into chaos grows more treacherous at every turn.
As Mac, Barrons, Ryodan, and Jada struggle to restore control, enemies become allies, right and wrong cease to exist, and the lines between life and death, lust and love, disappear completely. Black holes loom menacingly over Dublin, threatening to destroy the earth, yet the greatest danger is the one MacKayla Lane has unleashed from within: The Sinsar Dubh—a sentient book of unthinkable evil—has possessed her body and will stop at nothing in its insatiable quest for power.
The fate of Man and Fae rests on destroying the book and recovering the long-lost Song of Making, the sole magic that can repair the fragile fabric of the earth. But to achieve these aims, sidhe-seers, the Nine, Seelie, and Unseelie must form unlikely alliances and make heart-wrenching choices. For Barrons and Jada, this means finding the Seelie queen, who alone can wield the mysterious song, negotiating with a lethal Unseelie prince hell-bent on ruling the Fae courts, and figuring out how to destroy the Sinsar Dubh while keeping Mac alive.
This time, there’s no gain without sacrifice, no pursuit without risk, no victory without irrevocable loss. In the battle for Mac’s soul, every decision exacts a tremendous price.
Look for all of Karen Marie Moning’s sensational Fever novels:
DARKFEVER | BLOODFEVER | FAEFEVER | DREAMFEVER | SHADOWFEVER | ICED | BURNED | FEVERBORN | FEVERSONG
When I started reading KMM’s books many years ago, I knew this author was going to take me places from which I will love and loathe her for. As I was gobbling up the pages of Feversong, there were times I couldn’t believe the path she was taking the characters but in the end it all made sense. Every death, every painful decision, every tear shed brought forth a stellar end to Mac/Jericho’s story and a promising future for Dani/Jada and Ryodan’s. For those last two, I can see a true partnership. Their love won’t be easy but, then again, nothing ever is easy for those two.
As for the deaths I mentioned, I won’t disclose who died but I will say one person in particular will be sorely missed by me and by many readers/fans. However, like I said, the person’s death (much like their life) had a profound effect ….. especially Jade/Dani.
As the saying goes, “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” (Alfred Lord Tennyson)
For the ending, there is no doubt in my mind KMM will be back with more amazing tales. Read the final chapter and you’ll agree with my assessment.
Until then, I’ll be eagerly anticipating the return of my favorite characters and imagining what adventures will befall them next. With Shazam around, I’m sure nothing will be quite the same again!
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2
Look for all of Karen Marie Moning’s sensational Fever novels:
DARKFEVER | BLOODFEVER | FAEFEVER | DREAMFEVER | SHADOWFEVER | ICED | BURNED | FEVERBORN | FEVERSONG
Filed under Uncategorized